A SHELF 

LIFE

GUIDE

Your food is still

safe to eat!TOPICS:

Decoding Date Codes

Proper Storage Temp.

What Not to Consume

Product Shelf-Life

LOS ANGELES

REGIONAL

FOOD

BANK

VERSION 1

JAN. 2018

DECODING DATE CODES:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

"EXPIRATION DATE"

"PACK DATE"

"SELL BY" DATE

"USE BY" DATE

Look for it on: Baby food, formula,

medicines, vitamins, yeast, baking powder

What it means: Do NOT distribute after

the expiration date! Yeast and baking

powder work less well, but are safe to eat.

Look for it on: Canned foods, crackers,

cookies, spices.

What it means: This is the date the food

was packaged. Often displayed in a

numerical code. Usually this food is of good

quality and safe to eat for a long time past

the date.

Examples:

"Expires 11/15/18"

"Do not

use after 1/15/18"

"Packed on 03/01/20"

"22:5306412"

"KL064"

Look for it on: Refrigerated foods such as

milk, yogurt, eggs, lunch meat.

What it means: The store must sell these

foods before the code date listed. If the

food has been handled properly it is still

safe to eat and the quality is good.

"Sell by January 1,

2018"

"Pull Date"

Look for it on: Crackers, cookies, cold

cereals, and other dry, shelf stable food.

What it means: The manufacturer's

recommendation for how long the food will

be at peak quality. After this date, the food

is still safe to eat but begins to lose

nutrients and quality.

"Best if used by

1/1/2018"

"Use Before

1/1/2018"

PROPER STORAGE TEMPERATURES:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Refrigerator Freezer Dry Storage

Temperature should be

between 32°F - 40°F

Set refrigerator air temp

at 39°F to maintain

internal temperature of

food at 41°F

Leave space for air to

circulate between items

in the fridge

Temperature should be 0°FFreezer can be as cold

as -20°F if you have

something like ice cream

present.

Temperature between 50° - 70°F.

Rotate stock so that

older foods are

distributed first.

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TIPS on Storing Fresh Produce:

Most fruits and vegetables have the best quality when kept refrigerated. There are, however some

exceptions.

Tomato taste best if not refrigerated. Cold storage can cause them to become grainy.

Bananas should not be refrigerated unless fully ripe, and then they should be used within 1-2

days. Refrigeration will cause banana skin to blacken, but the fruit will not ripen while cold.

If they are very fresh; apples, mangoes, and stone fruits (plums, peaches, etc.) can be stored at

room temperature, but these items should be refrigerated as they ripen.

Hardy vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash can be stored in

cool, dark places outside of the cooler.

Store eggs in their original carton.

WHAT NOT TO CONSUME:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

CANS & JARS BOXES

Leaking or stainedSwollen canRustyBadly dented, crimped or pinchedContainer is crackedFoul odorSafety seals are broken or missingLids are loose or missingFood exhibit changed color or odor--never taste suspicious foods!

Is torn or leakingHas moldy or foreign objects insideSeals are ripped

Is open or tornHas live or dead insects, webs, or droppingsIs stained or wet

Inside bag:

W/out an inside bag:

TIPS: Store cans and boxes off the floor, and 18 inches away from the wall.

Store canned and boxed goods in a clean, dry, and cool area (below 85°F).

Extremely hot (over 100°F) and cold (below 30°F) temperatures can damage canned goods and

shorten shelf life.

Always rotate your stock--First in-First out (FIFO)! Distribute or use older products before newer

ones.

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Condiments & Sauces Pantry Stored Refrigeration after opening

Barbecue sauce (bottled)

Jams, jellies and preserves

Ketchup, cocktail, or chili sauce

Mayonnaise, commercial

Mustard

Olives, black and green

Pickles

Salad dressing, commercial

Salsa, picante and taco sauces

Spaghetti sauce, in jars

Vinegar

Worcestershire sauce

1 year

6-18 months

1 year

3-6 months

1-2 years

12-18 months

1 year

10-12 months

1 year

18 months

2 years

1 year

4 months

6-12 months

6 months

2 months

1 year

2 weeks

1-3 months

1-3 months

1 month

4 days

Baby FoodCereal, dry mixes

After opening Pantry Tips

1 month, if pantry stored

1 hour, if pantry stored 1 day, if refrigerated

Jars or pouches 2-3 days, if refrigerated

Liquid concentrate or ready-to- feed formula

2 days, if refrigerated

Should be discarded after use-by date

Should be discarded after use-by date

Should be discarded after use-by date

Formula, prepared

Should be discarded after use-by date

Beans

Fish: salmon, tuna, sardines,

mackerel

Fruit

Juices

Meat: beef, chicken, pork, turkey

Soups

Tomato soup

Vegetables

Canned Foods Pantry Stored Refrigeration after opening

2-5 years

2-5 years

12-18 months

12-18 months

10-12 months

2-5 years

12-18 months

2-5 years

3-4 days

3-4 days

5-7 days

5-7 days

3-4 days

3-4 days

5-7 days

3-4 days

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Baking & Cooking Pantry Stored After Opening

Biscuit or Pancake mix

Baking mixes (brownie, cake)

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Cornmeal, regular

12 months

12-18 months

6-18 months

2-3 years

6-22 months

3-6 months pantry

6 months pantry

2 years pantry 1 year refrigerated

Cornmeal, stone ground or blue 1 month 2-4 months refrigerated

Flour, white 6-12 months 6-8 months pantry 1 year refrigerated

Flour, whole wheat

Frosting or icing

3-6 months

10-12 months

6-8 months refrigerated

2-3 weeks refrigerated

Oils, olive or vegetable 6-12 months 3-5 months pantry 4 months refrigerated

Pudding mixes (shelf stable)

Shortening, solid

Spices, ground

Sugar substitutes

Sugar (brown, confectioners,

granulates)

12 months

12-18 months

6-18 months

2-3 years

6-22 months

3-4 months pantry

6-12 months pantry

2-3 years pantry

Indefinitely pantry

18-24 months pantry

Bakery Pantry Stored Refrigerated after opening Stored frozen

Commercial bread products (pan bread, flat bread, rolls and buns)

Commerical cakes and muffins

Cookies, crispy

Cookies, soft

Corn tortillas

Flour tortillas

Pita bread

Pastries, Danish

Tortillas

Whole wheat tortillas

3-7 days

4-6 months

2-3 months

7-10 days

1 week

2-4 days

5-10 days

3 months

1 week

7-10 days

6-8 weeks

3-4 weeks

4-7 days

14 months

3 months

3-4 weeks

6 months

8-12 months

8-12 months

6-8 months

6-8 months

4 months

Do not freeze

6 months

6-8 months

12 months 2-3 weeks 3-5 months

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Beverages Pantry Stored Pantry stored after opening

Coffee, ground (non-vacuum)

Coffee, instant

Coffee, whole beans

Fruit juice in cartons, punch

Juice, boxes

3-5 months

1 year

3-5 months

3 weeks

Use-by date

Dairy Products & Eggs Refrigerator Frozen

Butter

Buttermilk

Refrigerated after opening

3-5 weeks

2-3 months

3-5 months

7-12 days

1-2 years frozen

3-4 months

8-12 days

8-12 days

Soda (carbonated cola drinks, mixers, diet soda, bottles or cans)

2-3 days

Soy or rice beverages

Tea, bags

Tea, instant

Tea, loose*

18-36 months

2-3 years

2 years

Water, commercially bottled* (including flavored)

Indefinitely

1-2 months

1-2 weeks

6-9 months

3 months

Cheese, hard (cheddar, Swiss, block parmesan) 6 months 3-4 weeks, if refrigerated after opening

6 months

Cheese, processed slices

Cheese, shredded (cheddar, mozarella, etc.)

Cheese, soft (brie, bel paese)

Coffee creamer, liquid refrigerated

3-4 weeks

1 month

1-2 weeks

3 weeks

3-4 months

6 months

Cottage cheese, ricotta 2 weeks 1 week, if refrigerated after opening

Cream cheese

Cream, half-and-half

Cream, heavy

Cream, light

2 weeks

3-4 days

10 days

1 week

4 months

3-4 months

3-4 months

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Dairy Products & Eggs cont. Refrigerator Frozen

Egg substitutes, liquid 7 days 3 days, if refrigerated after opening

Eggs, in shell

Margarine

Milk, plain or flavored

3-5 weeks

6 months

1 week

Pudding

Sour cream

Whipped cream, aerosol can

Whipped topping, aerosol can

Whipped topping, tub

Yogurt

Package use-by date

3-4 weeks

3 months

2 weeks

1-2 weeks

14 months

1-2 months

12 months

3 months

Package use-by date 2 days, if refrigerated after opening

Deli & Prepared Foods Refrigerator Frozen

Cooked Pasta

Cooked Rice

Fruit, cut

3-5 days

4-6 days

1-2 months

6 months

Package use-by date 4 days, if refrigerated after opening

Guacamole 3-4 days 3-4 months

Hummus, commercial 3 months 7 days, if refrigerated after opening

Hummus, traditional 7 days

Leftovers, pizza 3-4 days 1-2 months

Leftovers (without meat, fish, poultry or egg i.e. cooked vegetables, rice or potatoes

3-4 days 1-2 months

Leftovers (with meat, fish, poultry or egg) 3-4 days 2-3 months

Luncheon meat or poultry, pre-packaged 2 weeks 3-5 days, if refrigerated after opening

1-2 months

Luncheon meat or poultry, store-sliced

Main dishes or meals, hot or refrigerated

Meats, covered with gravy or broth

3-5 days

3-4 days

3-4 days

1-2 months

2-3 months

6 months

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Deli & Prepared Foods cont. Refrigerator Frozen

Salads (containing meat, fish, poultry or eggs)

3-4 days

Salads, vegetable

Soups, stews

3-5 days

3-4 days 2-3 months

Food Purchased Frozen Frozen

Bread, bagels

Chicken, nuggets/patties

Desserts, frozen baked goods

Desserts, frozen cream pies

Desserts, frozen fruit pies

Dough, commercial (bread or cookie)

Egg substitutes 7 days, if refrigerated after opening 12 months frozen

Fish, breaded

Fish, raw but headed and gutted

Frozen potato products (fries, hash browns, tater tots)

Fruits

Ice Cream

Ice pops

Juice concentrates

Pancakes, waffles

Sausages, precooked

Sausages, uncooked

Soy meat substitutes

TV dinners: pies, casseroles, shrimp, ham, pork, or sausage

TV dinners: beef, turkey, chicken, or fish

Vegetables

18 months

6 months

6-12 months

4-6 months

2-4 months

9 months

1-2 years

2 months

1-2 months

1-2 months

12-18 months

3-4 months

6 months

8 months

3 months

2 months

3-4 months

1-2 months

6-8 months

6 months

Keep food frozen, it will last much longer than if it exposed to changing temperatures.

Keep all frozen food at 0 F or below.

Leave meat, poultry, and seafood in the original packaging

TIPS:

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Grains, Beans & Pasta Pantry Stored Pantry stored after opening

Beans, dried

Lentils, dried

Pasta, dry (without egg)

Pasta, dry (egg noodles)

Peas, dried split)

1-2 years

1 year

2 years

2 years

1 year

1 year

1 year

1 year

1-2 months

1 year

Rice, brown 1 year 6 months, if refrigerated after

Rice, white or wild 1 year 6 months, if refrigerated after

Meat & Fish/Seafood, fresh Refrigerator Stored Frozen

Beef: roasts, steaks Pork: roasts, chops Lamb: roasts, steaks/chops

3-5 days 4-12 months

6 months unopened 5-7 days opened

Crab, canned Do not freeze

Crab, legs 3-5 days 9-12 months

Fatty fish (bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.)

1-2 days 2-3 months

Ground meats (beef, pork, lamb, or poultry

Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.

Lean fish (pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout)

Lobster tails, raw

Poultry: chicken or turkey, whole cuts

Shrimp, raw

Scallops, raw

1-2 days

1-2 days

1-2 days

4-5 days

1-2 days

2 days

1-2 days

3-4 months

6-10 months

4-8 months

6-9 months

12 months

9 months

3-6 months

Meats should be

completely frozen, and

stored at 0°F or lower. Do

NOT leave meats at room

temperature unnecessarily!

Prepared foods should be

kept refrigerated. These

foods are perishable, and

leaving them at room

temperature will shorten

their shelf life.

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Meat & Fish/Seafood, 

smoked or processed Refrigerator Stored Frozen

Bacon 1 week 1 week, if refrigerated after opening

1 month

Chicken nuggets/patties

Chicken, fried or rotisserie

Ham

Hot dogs

1-3 months

4 months3-4 days

1 week

1-2 months2 weeks 1 week, if refrigerated after opening

Sausage, hard/dry/sliced (pepperoni)

Sausage, raw bulk type or patties

Sausage, fully cooked smoked links/kielbasa

2-3 weeks

1-2 days

1 week

1-2 months

1-2 months

1-2 months

Shelf Stable Foods Pantry StoredPantry stored after opening

Refrigerated after opening

Almond milk, shelf stable

Applesauce, commercial

Bacon, fully cooked

Canned chicken

Cereal, cook before eating (oatmeal)

Chocolate syrup

Coconut milk, shelf-stable

Coffee creamer, liquid shelf-stable

Crackers

Fruits, dried

Ham, shelf-stable cans

Juice, bottle shelf-stable

Milk, canned evaporated or condensed

Milk, shelf-stable UHT

Meat products, canned

Nuts, jars or cans

1 month

12-18 months

6 months

5 years

12 months

2 years

1 month

9-12 months

8 months

6 months

6-9 months

9 months

12 months

6 months

5 years

1 year

Not recommended

6-12 months

Not recommended

1 month

1 month

2-9 months

7-10 days

5-14 days

3-4 days

6 months

3-4 months

6 months

5-14 days

4-5 days

3-4 days

4-6 months

PRODUCT SHELF LIFE:

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

Shelf Stable Foods cont. Pantry StoredPantry stored after opening

Refrigerated after opening

Nutritional aid supplements (Boost, etc.)

Peanut butter, commercial

Popcorn, commercially popped in bags

Popcorn, dry kernels in jar

Popcorn, microwave packets

Potato chips

1 year

6-24 months

2-3 months

2 years

6-12 months

Use-by date 2 months

2-3 months

1-2 weeks

1 year

1-2 days

1-2 weeks

Potatoes, instant

Powdered milk

Pretzels

Pudding mixes

Soup mixes, dry bouillon

Syrup

Toaster pastries

10-15 months

2-10 years

4-9 months

1 year

1 year

1 year

6-12 months

6-12 months

3 weeks

3-4 months

1 year

1-2 weeks

6 months

Information courtesy of Foodsafety.gov | FoodKeeper App

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Designed by Amirah Dales

A SHELF LIFE GUIDE

***Disclaimer: The "A Shelf Life Guide" information is reliable, however, please remember that individual foods will

vary and that this advice should only be taken as a guideline and not a replacement for your health care professional. If

you have any additional questions please contact the C&N Department at 323.234.3030 or

nutritioned@lafoodbank.org.***